Mine safety apparatus



M. FURLONG.

Ml NE SAFETY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.1. I919.

1,327,59 a Pater med Jan. 6,1920.

flari'z'n furlough y fiz/iig Jnrentor of the shaft.

UNITED STAWENT OFrro MARTIN FUBLONG, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

MINE SAFETY APPARATUS.

Application filed August 7, 1918. Serial No. 315,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, h lAnTrN FURLoNG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lVashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine SafetyApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety appliances for mines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide means bywhich miners who by accident are confined in a mine, may be instantlylocated and communicated with by operators on the surface and saidminers may be provided with food, air, water and other necessities.

Other objects will appear as the invention is more fully described andexplained.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration ofa mine equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the end of the pipes.

Fig. 3 is a view of the main and auxiliary pipes.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail end view of the pipe.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the roof of a mine shaft,2 indicating the horizontal portion or first level 3 indicates stagingor framework between the upper level 2, and the lower level 3, of theshaft. t indicates apertures through the mine levels, by means of whichcommunication between the two levels is afforded. Extending from thelevel 3, through the apertures 1 and the roof, is a main pipe 5, leadingto a tool house 6.

Within the main pipe 5, are numerous auxiliary pipes 7, three beingshown merely to illustrate the application of the invention, it beingunderstood however, that a larger number of pipes may be used ifdesired.

Extending from the main pipe 5 and within the level, is a branch 8, andalso extending through the branch 8, are sub-branches 7 a leading fromthe auxiliary pipes 7 Each of the sub-branches 7 a in the level 2, andthe ends of the auxiliary pipes 7 in the level 3 is closed by a cap 9.Each cap 9 is normally held closed by a spring 9 Extending through oneof the auxililary pipes may be an electrical circuit 9", which isnormally open, but when closed energizes a magnet 9 to open one of thecaps 9. There would Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

of course be a separate circuit for each cap, so that when those uponthe surface are informed of the level in which the miners are confinedthe corresponding cap can be readily opened by closing the propercircuit by means of a push button or switch.

Extending from each level 2 and 8- is signal circuit 15, leading to abell in the tool house, and controlled by means indicated at 16.

In operation, if an explosion occurs in a level, and the operators fromthe surface are unable to reach the mine or cannot cominunicate with theentombed miners, the lat disaster has occurred. Of course a tele-- phonemay be included in the signal circuit.

The entombed miner may operate one. of the closures, and by signals hemay be supplied with air, water, or liquid food. If however the minershould be overcome by the gas, and is therefore not physically able toopen one of the closures, the operator in the tool house pushes thenecessary button, and the magnet acts to withdraw the spring lock, andair, or other essentials to life can be introduced to the level. Byoperating the various buttons, air, water and food can be supplied,until assistance can be rendered through the main shaft.

Obviously if a miner in one of the levels be physically unable to domore than press a signal button, it would indicate that the firstnecessity would be fresh air, and this could be immediately furnished bysuitable air pumps, located in the tool house 6. If the explosion hasbeen so severe, not only to cause deathly gas but also'cause the earthto cave in, completely entombing the occupants of the level, it wouldnot be necessary to delay furnishing occupants of the floor all thenecessities of life until proper excavation could be made; it only beingnecessary to furnish these necessities in the order of their importance,first air, next water could be pumped through one of the auxiliarypipes, and finally forced through still another pipe so on, until thefinal rescue of the entombed miners had been accomplished.

The parts are so arranged that any .particular level of a mine can besupplied with the necessities of life, without opening the closures inthe other levels. This provision avoids waste, and insures thenecessities being delivered where they are most needed.

If perchance more air, Water or food is furnished from the tool house,than is requirecl, the miner may manually cut off the supply byactuating the respective closures.

What I claim is 1. In a safety system for mines, the combination of amain pipe extending from above the surface into a mine, a plurality ofauxiliary pipes contained Within the main pipe having openings upon eachfloor of the mine, means for normally closing the auX- iliary pipes, andmeans operable from the surface for controlling the said closing means.

2. In means for supplying entombed miners with the necessities of life,the combination of a plurality of pipes extending from a point above thesurface to the various levels in the mine, a closure for each pipe, alatch for each closure, means above the surface for operating eachclosure, said latches also being manually operable to be under thecontrol of the entombecl miners, and signals extending from the levelsof the mines to and above the surface thereof.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

MARTIN FURLONG.

